Search continues south of Ipswich

THE search for missing woman Tina Greer was ramped up yesterday, with 40 police and SES volunteers scouring a large area of bushland south of Ipswich.

Police hold grave concerns for the 32-year-old mother, who has been missing since January 18.

Ipswich specialist support Inspector Keith McDonald said the search near Spicer's Gap was now focused on the western area of the Governor's Chair lookout car park, where Ms Greer's vehicle was found locked and with her personal belongings inside on January 22.

"The search will cover both sides of Spicer's Gap Rd," Insp McDonald said.

"The terrain is harsh - very hilly and thick forest."

The search will also work its way up to Spicer's Peak, about 70km south of Ipswich, where police had hoped to search earlier but had been unable to access due to hazardous conditions caused by wet weather.

Members of the SES, police recruits, police stock squad and cadaver dog teams contended with more soggy conditions yesterday, with large numbers of leeches and ticks present in the thick, wet scrub.

Two teams of searchers from the stock squad used horses to access an area near Ski Zone Rd, which runs downhill to the western banks of Moogerah Dam.

Insp McDonald said extensive searches would be conducted along creeks and waterways which flowed away from the lookout.

Although members of the State Crime Operations Command Homicide Investigation Squad joined the investigation, police are still treating it as a missing person case and not a murder.

Insp McDonald said police had conducted an extensive search of a property belonging to Ms Greer's boyfriend, not far from the place where her car was found.

Ms Greer, from Beechmont, reportedly left her boyfriend's property on the morning of January 19.

Police still don't know why Ms Greer travelled to the Governor's Chair lookout, or if she was alone when she got there.

The place where her vehicle - a maroon 2003 Holden Commodore - was found parked was just a short walk from the lookout itself.

Although Ms Greer's phone, handbag and personal belongings were found inside, police are yet to find the keys to the car.

"This is very concerning for police because she has missed important dates in her daughter's life, including her first day of high school," Insp McDonald said.

"We don't know exactly how long the vehicle was parked there before we found it.

"She wasn't a known bushwalker and the clothing we believe she was wearing at the time was not conducive to bushwalking."

Police are urging anyone who visited the Governor's Chair lookout at Clumber between January 18 and 22 to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.